Aclaris Photon Sunscreen Gel — Efficacy 4.4/5.0, Safety 3.8/5.0 | DemythSkin
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[ DemythSkin Verdict ]
Aclaris Photon Sunscreen Gel
Aclaris

Aclaris Photon Sunscreen Gel

SunscreenSun Protection
Efficacy
Strong
4.4 / 5.0
Safety
Mostly Safe
3.8 / 5.0
System Verdict
This is a competent broad-spectrum sunscreen with a solid UV filter blend, but the “extra” skincare hype is mostly filler. The efficacy score is driven by the real protection system: octinoxate for UVB, avobenzone for UVA, benzophenone-3 for additional UV coverage, plus titanium dioxide and zinc oxide for mineral support; the humectants and soothing agents are supportive but not the main reason it works.
Active Ingredients Detected
S Tier: Gold StandardsHigh Clinical Proof | Skin-Transformative
Surface Treated Titanium DioxideZinc Oxide
A Tier: Good BasicsProven Results
Butyl MethoxydibenzoylmethaneAloe Barbadensis Leaf JuiceGlycerinAllantoinHoney Extract
B Tier: Supporting IngredientsPromising Ingredients
Dicetyl PhosphateAscorbyl PalmitatePhospholipidsPolymethylsilsesquioxaneSodium LevulinateCeteth-20 PhosphateVitamin E
C Tier: Marketing IdolsHype | Limited or Weak Data
Glutathione
D Tier: Potential IrritantsBe Cautious
Ethylhexyl MethoxycinnamateBenzophenone-3
What Each Ingredient Does
Aqua
solvent
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UVB filter
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UVA filter
Dicetyl Phosphate
emulsifier
Surface Treated Titanium Dioxide
mineral UV filter
Polysorbate 80
emulsifier
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
soothing humectant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
antioxidant
Glycerin
humectant
Benzophenone-3
broad-spectrum UV filter
Phospholipids
emollient base
1.3-Butylene Glycol
humectant
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
texture enhancer
Cetearyl Alcohol
fatty alcohol thickener
Phenoxyethanol
preservative
Sodium Levulinate
preservative booster
Potassium Sorbate
preservative
Stearic Acid
emollient thickener
Ceteth-20 Phosphate
emulsifier
Zinc Oxide
mineral UV filter
Vitamin E
antioxidant
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
texture silicone
Allantoin
soothing agent
Glutathione
antioxidant
Full Ingredient List (INCI)

Aqua, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Dicetyl Phosphate, Surface Treated Titanium Dioxide, Polysorbate 80, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Benzophenone-3, Phospholipids, 1.3-Butylene Glycol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Levulinate, Potassium Sorbate, Stearic Acid, Ceteth-20 Phosphate, Zinc Oxide, Vitamin E, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Allantoin, Glutathione, Honey Extract

Frequently Asked

Is Aclaris Photon Sunscreen Gel worth it?

Aclaris Photon Sunscreen Gel scores 4.4 out of 5.0 for efficacy (Strong) and 3.8 out of 5.0 for safety (Mostly Safe) on DemythSkin's independent ingredient analysis. This is a competent broad-spectrum sunscreen with a solid UV filter blend, but the “extra” skincare hype is mostly filler. The efficacy score is driven by the real protection system: octinoxate for UVB, avobenzone for UV

What are the key active ingredients in Aclaris Photon Sunscreen Gel?

Aclaris Photon Sunscreen Gel contains these gold-standard actives with strong clinical evidence: Surface Treated Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide.

Does Aclaris Photon Sunscreen Gel contain fragrance or known irritants?

DemythSkin flags these ingredients in Aclaris Photon Sunscreen Gel as potential irritants: Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Benzophenone-3.

How is Aclaris Photon Sunscreen Gel scored?

DemythSkin grades every product on two independent axes: efficacy (whether the ingredients have clinical evidence of working) and safety (irritation and sensitisation risk). Ingredients are classified S through D against a database of over 3,000 compounds. No brand pays for a score.

Analyze on DemythSkin

Analysis last updated: 2026-08-07. DemythSkin is an independent ingredient analyzer. Scores are computed by a deterministic rubric from published clinical evidence — no brand pays for a score.